Food for consideration, and others reading the thread: Our world
is always changing. Yesterday's ideas are put aside for Today's.
This isn't limited to the realm of the Sciences. This is
something that's been going on for as long as there have been
people. We can call it Progress but I don't it's necessarily
that. Rather, it's the constant turnover of Change. Now, we are
in 2015. Culturally, we have all sorts of competing systems, all
with different ideas about the "nature of things". In 1515, we
had a different set of competing systems, all with different
ideas about the "nature of things". In 1015, we had a different
set of competing systems, all with different ideas about the
"nature of things". We will have a different set of competing
systems, all with different ideas about the "nature of things"
in 2515. In 3015. Time marches forward and we're still here.
Now, we look back at the past and often go, "Oh, they were
backwards. Today, we're getting it right. Soon, we'll have it
all figured out 'once and for all'". But will we? Did they in
1015? 1515? Why so in 2015? Or 2515? What will be throw away in
500 years time that we currently state to be Fact? How much
Science will be laughable? A little of it? Some of it? Much of
it? Most of it? All of it? We don't know. But there are
patterns. One pattern that it's hard to ignore once you see it
is our use of Metaphor for understanding. The Sciences are
littered with Metaphors for understanding. We use them so much
we don't even SEE them most of the time. Metaphors are useful.
They help us understand difficult things. But then... metaphors
can be straightjackets as well, LIMITING how far we can see if
we forget we're using metaphors. It's not always a problem. We
can go very far on metaphors and numbers. But then there are
some realms where the metaphors cease to function well. Numbers
for example, are metaphors for example. Dig down deeper and no
two things in the Universe are really alike at all. They're in
different parts in spacetime. They're different shapes. Have
their own starting and ending times and places. Usually
different shapes an what not. Numerosity of things is a
necessary illusion. We can *do a lot* with them though. They're
practical. Very practical. But pragmaticism doesn't necessarily
equal truth. What's useful for humans (pragmatic) isn't
necessarily the whole picture of things. The Sciences will
always be limited in certain areas as long as they keep their
methodologies and that's fine for their purposes. Mathematics
will always be limited because it will always remain a model and
not "the thing itself". Down to its core, the axiom/proof system
necessarily limits mathematics. Limitations don't mean
functionless in any way. It just means there will always be
parts where it... stops. So what do you do? Other systems, other
ways, other perspectives. We're a fluid species. One size
doesn't fit all. One answer doesn't fit all, nor should it. Our
limitations must always be kept in mind. We have but one
perspective: human perspective. There's no aliens to compare
notes with. No other animals are talking to us. Our limitations
are embedded in the very machines we create. Computers for
example, are VERY human. They're our product. We model them on
ourselves and the way we think that we think. These aren't bad
things, but we can't get too cocky about our abilities. yet we
have to keep trying, striving, moving forward. I dunno. I don't
have ultimate answers. I know to 'watch out for the metaphors"
because they both lead and mislead. That's a "hard rule" I keep
in mind with whatever I'm analyzing. Another is keeping in mind
where we are at this point in time and how the future might view
our current ideas about things. So I'm never really "here" even
though I'm here. I try to imagine the perspective of someone in
2515, or 3015, looking back at our folly and what we get right
as well. It's imagination. Marvelous tool. Sorry for the babble.
I really need an editor tongue emoticon
